Professionalism In Construction

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The construction industry is a major development tool and source of employment (Ofori, 2006). According to the Construction Review, it contributes about 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs at least one million people. Like most developing countries, Kenya has been constantly trying to scale up its infrastructure and other utilities that makes the country more competitive in the global market.
In 2014 the construction industry output rose from 5.8 per cent in 2013 to 13.1 per cent due to heavy government spending, growth in property development and a booming real estate sector. Major flagship projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway and the expansion of the Mombasa port commenced in the same

It is the skill, good judgement and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well (Macdonald, 2004). Acceptable standards are used to define the boundaries of a profession. The earliest professions include medicine, law and engineering which developed in the 19th century in North America and Western Europe. Professionals in the construction industry include the Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Engineers (Structural and Service) and the Project Manager among others. The contribution of these consultants is vital in all stages of a construction project. They are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner to ensure a project meets the desired standards. Consultants are regulated by established professional bodies and statutory regulations. It follows that there is an established code of conduct to which all professionals must conform to failure to which risk disciplinary measures ranging from huge fines to revocation of practice license. In some extents it might involve serving a jail term. Despite the existence of a well laid out structure in the construction industry in the form of legislation, building codes and regulatory bodies, the industry is plagued with problems that threaten the realization of national development

To investigate whether unprofessional conduct affects the inherent quality of work.
Research Questions
1. Has professionalism declined in the construction industry?
2. What unprofessional practices are being practiced in the construction industry and what are their causes?
3. Does the client contribute to the decline of professionalism in the construction industry?
4. Does these unprofessional conducts affect the quality of work?
Study Hypothesis
Null hypothesis (Ho);
The client does not contribute to the decline of professionalism in the construction industry.
Significance of the study
The future of the country depends on the efficient implementation of set out development plans. The centrality of the construction industry in achieving this vision is fundamental. It requires that development projects are carried out without compromise on quality or wastage of resources. To achieve this, it is imperative that professionalism take center stage. Identifying the causes of unprofessional conduct in construction sets a platform for implementation of combative measures with the goal to root out these practices completely. This also serves to demystify some of the preconceived ideas about professionals in